Unhappy events abroad have retaught us two simple truths about the liberty of a democratic people. The first truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic State itself. That, in its essence, is fascism-ownership of government by an individual, by a group or by any other controlling private power. The second truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if its business system does not provide employment and produce and distribute goods in such a way as to sustain an acceptable standard of living. Both lessons hit home. Among us today a concentration of private power without equal in history is growing.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Democracy fails if private power grows too strong or if business fails to provide jobs.
- In plain terms
- Democracy needs limits on private power and good jobs.
- What can you take from it?
- Democracy requires balanced power and economic stability.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When does power become too strong?
- What sustains liberty?
Another view
Defining private power limits can be subjective.
More from Franklin Delano Roosevelt
The Nation that destroys its soil destroys itself.
Permalink to quote #12 All free peoples are deeply impressed by the courage and steadfastness of the Greek nation.
Permalink to quote #14 The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.
Permalink to quote #11
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